Towing with a Ford Ranger 2007 - V6 3.0L - 2X4 - 3.73 ratio

[DoPlouffe]

Good day everyone.

I have the following truck:

Ford Ranger 2007
Super Cab
V6 3.0L engine
2X4
3.73 Axel ratio

I am looking to buy a bowrider (in the 16' to 18' range) and would like to know if anyone has a similar setup.

The bowrider i'm looking to buy is a Bayliner 175 (Inboard motor). Its dry weight with the motor and trailer included is around 2200 pounds.

I have looked around the web and found my max towing capacity and its around 2400 pounds.

I know that I would be in the 'danger' zone since with my towing capacity, but would like to know if someone has a similar setup...

From my home to the launch ramp its about 10Km (6-7 miles) to travel

Q: I'd like to know if its gonna be a problem to take it out of the water.
Q: Will I have braking/slip issues.

If you have any other advice or comments, please, anything can help

Thanks.
Dominic.

 

[dirtyoldman]

Re: Towing with a Ford Ranger 2007 - V6 3.0L - 2X4 - 3.73 ratio

The supercab and longer wheelbase will be the biggest saving grace there. It can get kind of miserable towing a trailer with very short wheelbase vehicles.


I don't think you'll have any problem with one exception. You have a 2wd vehicle with no weight on the rear end and any moss or slime on the ramp might make it literally impossible to pull out of there.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FshOpPqj88

You will not have an issue towing with that vehicle, retrieving will be the only issue.

 

[UpperUpsilon]

Re: Towing with a Ford Ranger 2007 - V6 3.0L - 2X4 - 3.73 ratio

We used to pull with a 2wd Ranger, and what you need is weight on the ramps. Sandbags, people, anything. Just move everyone out of the boat and into the bed and the ramps will be much easier on the ol' tires.

 

[phoenixisrizen]

Re: Towing with a Ford Ranger 2007 - V6 3.0L - 2X4 - 3.73 ratio

I tow my 170 Classic I/O (probably at least 3000 lbs ready to go) with a 2000 Ford Ranger SuperCab (3.0L, 3.73 diff, auto trans, but it's 4x4) I had a little trouble lugging the boat out of the water until I started using 4 wheel low, but I use a pretty steep ramp. My main concern was the braking, Ranger's have always had, in my opinion (and I am a long-time Ford tech) marginal brakes. I therefore added electric brakes to my trailer, and towing is much easier knowing that you can stop.

Towing without the brakes was a little scary (and illegal here in PA from what I've read due to the trucks weight vs the trailers weight)

 

[The Dougler]

Re: Towing with a Ford Ranger 2007 - V6 3.0L - 2X4 - 3.73 ratio

I pull mine with a 4.0L 4x4 ranger with 4.10's in it. Boat weighs 3200lbs on a double axle trailer. It's a little sluggish getting it rolling from a light or merging on to the highway. Pulls it up the ramp in 4 low no problem.

If your truck has an open diff you might get stuck on a slimy ramp, especially if you don't have quality tires.

 

[DoPlouffe]

Re: Towing with a Ford Ranger 2007 - V6 3.0L - 2X4 - 3.73 ratio

If your truck has an open diff you might get stuck on a slimy ramp, especially if you don't have quality tires.

My diff is 'locked' (I think another word for it is 'limited slip'?) Will that help me at all?

Thanks again for all those that took time to reply! Really appreciated.

Dominic.

 

[DoPlouffe]

Re: Towing with a Ford Ranger 2007 - V6 3.0L - 2X4 - 3.73 ratio

I bought a Bayliner 175 2010 yesterday.

The ranger pulled it fine from Kanata to Gatineau. That trip was around 40 miles on mostly flat road.

I haven't had a chance to take it to the water yesterday as it was raining in the afternoon and had to shop for some equipment first.

It's gonna have it's first 'bath' tonight (hopefully). I'll let you guys know how it went at the boat ramp.

P.S. I tested the boat at their ramp before buying. The ramp wasn't very steep but it was wet and I didn't had any problem there.

Thanks again for all the advice above.
Dominic.

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Towing with a Ford Ranger 2007 - V6 3.0L - 2X4 - 3.73 ratio

You're gonna want trailer brakes. Try a near panic stop without them if you need some convincing.

 

[phoenixisrizen]

Re: Towing with a Ford Ranger 2007 - V6 3.0L - 2X4 - 3.73 ratio

You're gonna want trailer brakes. Try a near panic stop without them if you need some convincing.

See my post above. I agree 100%! I had to make a panic stop the other day towing mine, some a**hole was in a hurry and pulled out right in front of me only to pull into the bar 100 yards down the road

I never would have made the stop without the trailer brakes.

 

[DJ]

Re: Towing with a Ford Ranger 2007 - V6 3.0L - 2X4 - 3.73 ratio

Your towed weight will be 3K# plus.

You definetely want trailer brakes

The other issue you'll run into is "unloading" of the front wheels. As you back down the ramp, the front wheels become unloaded thus losing some of your holding (braking) power. As stated, put some weight, in the bed DIRECTLY behind the cab.

 

[DoPlouffe]

Re: Towing with a Ford Ranger 2007 - V6 3.0L - 2X4 - 3.73 ratio

Good day to everyone.

Since my last post, I went out 3 times with the boat (First time was in the rain to test the boat).

I had no trouble launching or pulling the boat out of the water, even when the ramp was soaking wet (raining). Did not slip/lose grip at all.

As for the braking, I did a few test in a old store parking lot with my father. From 100Kmh (60Mph) to 0, it added average of 4-5 foots to my braking distance, with no brake on the trailer.

As stated in my first post, I only have about 6-7 miles from my home to the launch ramp, and its all rural (single line all the way, no traffic).

So far, I'm enjoying the boat alot!